Advice to help a felon get a job
However, I face some of the same struggles. In May of 1999, I was
foolish enough to allow myself to get in an altercation with a
neighbor. You have no idea how many times I have wished I could erase
those two minutes. That fight has made my life very difficult. I was
convicted of a felony for a two minute fight with a neighbor. Now, I
am having a very hard time finding a job. I was a LPN then, and i
still hold a license. However, I can not find a job. When the
employers see the felony for criminal trespass, I guess they think I'm
a criminal. I have made some bad choices. No one made me attack that
lady. What's sad is, most of the things I was accused of were lies.
I am not crying over the spilled milk. I'm just pleading for you help
any way you can.
I am currently taking classes so I can pursue my RN. I figured I had let that felony hinder me long enough. I am going after my dreams, BSN. Nevertheless, I sometimes fill a little discouraged. I have recently had to apply for welfare. I keep telling myself, " It's okay. Keep looking to the positive. Don't despair. Things will get better". But, the reality is some times I really want to cry. I am a nurse a heart. This is what I was meant to do. 16 years of providing care and I would love to continue. What's more, I like to earn my way. Welfare kicks rocks.
Please help. Do you have any advice?
P.S.
My recent struggle have made me take a very close look at myself. I
needed some time to analyze and reflect. Wow. I have a completely
different perspective life. I believe I have done a great deal of
growth. I have over 1 1/2 years to reflect. My humility has
increased, my insight has broadened, I feel a peace I haven't felt in
quite some time. Now, if only I could loop this circle with
employment, that would be great. So sorry for writing so much. Plz
forgive. : )
Hello Elsie,
Sorry for you trouble. The good thing is that you still have your license and you conviction has nothing to do with your profession. As with many ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs, you may have to approach the job search a little differently. First I suggest that you look into expungement or sealing of your record. That means that the conviction will only be visible to the court system, law enforcement and government agencies. To get more information about expungement in your state, you should contact your local legal aid office. You may qualify for free legal assistance.
Your difficulty may be a result of these tough economic time rather than your conviction. Employers tend to be more picky when jobs are less plentiful. I would apply for every position you feel qualified for. Even a blind man will hit something if he throws enough rocks. The best place to find job leads is your local One-stop Career Center. Each state has a network of centers that have employment, education, and training services all in one place. There are counselors available that will assist in preparing your resume and provide employment leads for open jobs in your area. There are no fees or charges for these services. You can find the nearest location of the One Stop Career Center in your local Yellow Pages or on the web at
www.servicelocator.org
The key to applying for temporary employment for ex-offenders and felons is to apply at smaller independent agencies rather than large national companies. Small independent agencies have fewer hiring restrictions than larger national companies and are free to hire anyone they feel that can help them. You can get a list of these agencies in your local phone directory.
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